End of an era for church

More than 100 people gather for the final service at Christ Church in Crewe

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More than 100 people packed into Christ Church in Crewe for the final service on Sunday.

Cheshire East mayor Dorothy Flude was among the congregation for the last ever service at the historic town centre church.

The Rev Canon Bill Baker said: “The final service was in a spirit of thanksgiving for all the good things that have occurred over the last 168 years and looking forward to a new form of ministry to be offered by the Church of England in Crewe town centre in 2014.

“Parishioners, friends and well wishers attended the service and the church was full with over 100 people present.”

He said the pastoral ministry in the old parish is being split and north of West Street will be taken by St Michael’s at Coppenhall while South of West Street, including the town centre, will be taken by St Andrews, Bedford Street.

Christ Church’s closure has been blamed on falling congregation numbers and rising costs.

Christ Church has played a significant part in Christian ministry within the town over the years.

At the end of the 20th century it was very active in building new congregations as the town of Crewe expanded, and was the mother church to the former St John the Baptist’s in Stalbridge Road, which has since closed, and St Andrew’s in Bedford Street.